Iran has claimed that a US military rescue operation in southern Isfahan ended in failure, alleging that several American aircraft were destroyed during the mission.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Joint Military Headquarters said the operation was intended to evacuate a pilot from a downed aircraft but was thwarted by Iranian forces.

He stated that the alleged US rescue mission, carried out at an abandoned airfield south of Isfahan, was stopped due to the swift response of Iranian armed forces.

The spokesperson further claimed that two US C-130 Hercules planes and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the confrontation.